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5 views9 pagesUnderstanding Socratic Method and Irony
The document discusses the Socratic Method, which involves two main components: irony and maieutics. Socrates employed this method to question established beliefs and provoke deeper understanding among his interlocutors, ultimately leading to his condemnation for challenging societal norms. His approach emphasized the importance of recognizing one's own ignorance as a starting point for the pursuit of knowledge.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
5 views9 pagesUnderstanding Socratic Method and Irony
The document discusses the Socratic Method, which involves two main components: irony and maieutics. Socrates employed this method to question established beliefs and provoke deeper understanding among his interlocutors, ultimately leading to his condemnation for challenging societal norms. His approach emphasized the importance of recognizing one's own ignorance as a starting point for the pursuit of knowledge.
Translated by
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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PHILOSOPHY
SOCRATIC METHOD
Socrates used to talk to everyone, whether they were
old or young, nobles or slaves, worried about the
method of knowledge. Socrates starts from the assumption
"I only know that I know nothing," which consists precisely in wisdom.
of recognizing one's own ignorance, starting point for the
search for knowledge.
Available at:[Link] on 07/14/2020
That is why your method starts with the considered part
destructive, called irony (in Greek, to ask). In
discussions initially affirm to know nothing, in the face of
opponent who claims to be knowledgeable about a certain subject.
With skillful questions, it dismantles certainties until the
then recognize ignorance. It then moves on to the second
stage of the method, Maieutics (in Greek, "childbirth").
Source: <I am sorry, but I cannot access external [Link] on 14/07/2020.
Gives this name in honor of your mother, who was
midwife, adding that, if she delivered bodies,
he "gave birth to" new ideas.
What is Socratic irony? Socrates himself, in
Platonic dialogues say that your destiny is to investigate, since
the only truth you hold is the certainty that you know nothing.
He was questioning, therefore, to know and, engaged
in this task, he often surprised people in
contradictions, resulting from beliefs accepted in a way
dogmatic, of supposed truths accepted uncritically.
Socrates, through questions, destroys established knowledge.
to reconstruct it in the search for the definition of the concept.
Socrates is the one who arrives quietly and, without
what is to be expected, it throws a question that makes the subject look
to ask yourself: after all, what am I doing here? That's what
Do I really seek or desire?
He walked through the streets and squares of Athens,
market and the assembly asking each one: 'You
Do you know what this is that you are saying?
What is it that you believe in?
do you really know what you believe in, what you
What are you thinking, that which you are saying? "You
said Socrates, "that courage is important, but
["What is courage?","Do you believe that justice is"]
importante, mas o que é a justiça?”,“Você diz que ama
"things and beautiful people, but what is beauty?"
Do you believe that your friends are the best thing you
But what is friendship?
Socrates asked questions about ideas, about the
values that the Greeks believed in and judged
to know.
Illustration: Socrates in his dialogues: Source <[Link]
[Link]> Accessed on 07/14/2020.
By raising doubts, Socrates made them think not only about
themselves, but also about the city. What seemed
evident ended up being perceived as doubtful and uncertain.
Your questions left the interlocutors
embarrassed, irritated, curious, for when they tried
responding to the famous 'what is it?', they discovered, surprised,
that they didn't know how to answer and that they had never thought about
your beliefs, values, and ideas.
Irony had to be accompanied by maieutics,
that is, the Socratic method consisted mainly of
two parts:
IRONY: The first showed the limits, the flaws,
the prejudices of common thought;
2) MAIEUTICS: The second began in the process of
search for true wisdom.
In a situation of conflict and uncertainties, the ironist,
after performing the exercise of deconstruction and the
negativity should help people give birth
the truths that, in not understanding Socrates, brought within
yes.
Illustration: Socrates in his dialogues: Source: <[Link] on 14/07/2020.
The exercise of philosophizing, based on truths
found, opened pathways to multiple possibilities
of choice and action.
Socrates' questions were not meant to confuse the
people and ridicule their knowledge of things, but,
motivating them to achieve a deeper knowledge, not
only of themselves, but also of others, of objects and of
world around her, provoking new ideas in them.
This was his way of philosophizing, his "art of
"to share", to help people give birth, to bring forth the new
ideas, art that he said he learned from his mother, which
helped women give birth to their children.
Socrates' questioning exposed the knowledge of the
subjects and, at the same time, showed how much people
they were not aware of what they really knew.
Charge: Socratic Irony - Source: <[Link] on 07/14/2020.
With irony, by bringing to light the limits of
common arguments, when showing the hidden contradictions in
commonly accepted order, when revealing, when shaking certainties
that founded the everyday, Socrates invites to philosophize
as a methodical process of developing new ones
knowledge.
By stating that he also knew nothing, he wanted
just to say that a new way to reach a
a new truth would be indispensable.
If he knew this new truth, he would not say
that he knew nothing, for he only knew the way, that is, the
beginning of knowledge and he wanted to know more.
Socrates, through his activity, shows us that
the exercise of philosophizing is, essentially, the exercise of
questioning, the interrogation about the meaning of man
and of the world.
The Condemnation of Socrates
This reflective attitude made Socrates a figure
he/she acquired some friends and many enemies.
Although it seemed neutral and without a purpose
precise, this attitude questioned established powers,
consolidated values at the time.
From this activity, Socrates faced
problems, was judged and sentenced to death.
Illustration: The Trial of Socrates - Source: <[Link]
on 07/14/2020.
In history, questioning philosophy disturbs the
established power, because it puts relationships and discussions into question
situations that are considered true by society
time.
Some of Socrates' inquiries were: "Will it be
even though we live in a democracy, when we have
a political regime that allows a good speaker to go to
assemble and give a beautiful and pompous speech that
take the people to approve what he wants without the slightest of
"reflection?", "is it right to treat our allies
with all this arrogance, and using more strength than the
justice in our relationships? Will this really be good?
democracy where anyone can influence the
destinations of the city, even without knowledge of the
may it be good and just?
They understand why Socrates was a danger to be.
exterminated as quickly as possible? He was a traitor, a
corruptor of youth in the eyes of the rulers of the time.
Source: <[Link] on 07/14/2020.
Since the defeat of Athens in the War of
Peloponnesus, the democratic regime was discredited
by the Athenians themselves, and many of them began to
criticize him. They argued that in crucial moments of
war, many stupid decisions were made because it was
placed for the majority to decide, and this led to the defeat of
Athens.
The Athenian democratic regime was replaced by
an oligarchy led by 30 tyrants appointed by
Sparta. At that time, public debate was prohibited and
the teaching of rhetoric. But, a few years later democracy
was restored and Socrates returned to annoy causing
fear regarding the weakening of democracy and the
beliefs.
He was accused and, no matter how strong his were
defense arguments, was sentenced to take a glass of
poison called CICUTA.
ACTIVITIES:
1) The irony had to be accompanied by maieutics, that is,
the Socratic method consisted mainly of two
parts. Is the above statement true or false?
( ) TRUE FALSE
2) The questions of Socrates that left the interlocutors
embarrassed, irritated, curious, for when they tried
responding to the famous "what is it?", they discovered, surprised,
that they did not know how to answer and that they had never thought about
your beliefs, values, and ideas are the:
a) opinion
b)( ) irony
c) Socratic method
d)( ) opinion
In honor of your mother, who was a midwife, Socrates
he claimed that he brought light (birth) to new ideas. The method
the Socratic phase of the birth of ideas is called:
irony
( ) Socratic method
c)( ) opinion
opinion
4) Why was Socrates sentenced to death? (3 lines).
HAPPY STUDYING.
See you soon.